Wai Kru-Teacher Appreciation in Thailand

January 16th is designated as teacher appreciation day or Wai Kru (Wai means to bow and Kru means teacher) and throughout the week we were treated special! One day lunch was provided by the mothers of our Korean students, another day by the mothers of our Thai students. (Both lunches were delicious!) One day my Assistant Principal sent out an email stating what she appreciates about EVERY person on her elementary staff! Before we were dismissed on Friday for a half day in honor of this occasion, we had a school wide assembly where the tradition of the Wai Kru was explained and a special ceremony took place. I'm including some videos below...

For me, the most unique part of this entire process was the Wai Kru itself. All of the elementary teachers were asked to sit on the stage and 4th grade students crawled on their knees holding a bouquet as an offering for the teacher. The students offered the bouquet to the teachers, and in return the teacher was expected to place their hand on the child's head and offer a blessing. Some of my colleagues are not comfortable with this tradition, and I can see why but coming from a place where so often the teacher is not respected, I found this experience to be quite moving.

Here is a little more history from the Lead Thai Teacher at my school and some videos from the assembly...including when the 4th grade students entered to honor the high school teachers, the special Wai Kru dance, high school students speaking on the history of the day & the high school choir singing the anthem.